Frequently Asked Questions

Interventional pain management uses minimally invasive, image-guided procedures — like spinal injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation — to diagnose and treat the source of chronic pain. The goal is to reduce pain and restore function without surgery or long-term reliance on opioid medications.

We have three Utah offices serving patients across the Wasatch Front and central Utah: • Provo — 280 W River Park Dr., Suite 200 (801-223-4860) • Lehi — 230 North 1200 East, Suite 201 (801-852-9555) • Nephi — 48 West 1500 North (801-223-4860)

A physician referral is helpful but not required for most patients. Some insurance plans require a referral for specialist visits — please check with your plan. New patients can call us directly to schedule a consultation.

We accept most major insurance plans. Coverage for specific procedures varies by plan, so we encourage you to call our office to verify benefits before your visit. Our staff can help you understand expected out-of-pocket costs.

Please bring a photo ID, your insurance card, a list of current medications, and any relevant imaging (MRI, X-rays, CT scans) or medical records from prior providers. New patient paperwork can be completed in advance through our patient portal.

Our physicians are board-certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine, with 27+ years of practice experience. We perform most procedures in our own state-of-the-art procedure suites with on-site fluoroscopy, lead-lined walls, and patient monitoring — meaning faster scheduling and consistent quality of care across all three offices.

Most procedures are performed with local anesthetic only. Sedation is available upon request for a more comfortable experience. Our team will discuss anesthesia options with you during your consultation.

Most injections and nerve blocks take 15 – 30 minutes from start to finish. More involved procedures like radiofrequency ablation, kyphoplasty, or spinal cord stimulator placement may take 45 – 90 minutes. Plan to be at the office for about an hour, including check-in and recovery.

Fluoroscopy is real-time, low-dose X-ray imaging that lets the physician see exactly where the needle is throughout the procedure. It dramatically improves accuracy and patient safety, especially for spine and joint injections.

It depends on the procedure. Local anesthetic provides immediate relief that typically lasts a few hours. Steroid injections begin working within 2 – 7 days, with peak effect around two weeks. Radiofrequency ablation results may take 2 – 3 weeks to fully appear. Your physician will set expectations based on your specific procedure.

When performed by board-certified pain physicians using fluoroscopic guidance, these procedures have an excellent safety profile. Risks are low and will be reviewed in detail before your procedure as part of informed consent.

Our primary focus is non-opioid, interventional treatments that address the source of pain. We do not maintain patients on long-term opioid therapy as a first-line approach. For patients who already have a dependence on opioids, our addiction medicine program offers safe, effective options including Suboxone, Vivitrol, and naltrexone implants.

We treat a wide range of chronic pain conditions including back pain, neck pain, sciatica, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, arthritis, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), neuropathy, fibromyalgia, headaches, cancer pain, and pain following spine surgery.

Consider seeing a pain specialist if pain has lasted more than 6 weeks, is interfering with sleep or daily activities, has not improved with rest or physical therapy, or if you are looking for alternatives to surgery or long-term opioid medication.

Yes. Our providers are experienced in treating both chronic pain and substance use disorders simultaneously. We offer medication-assisted treatment including Suboxone, Vivitrol injections, and naltrexone implants, alongside non-opioid pain management.

Yes. Failed back surgery syndrome (post-laminectomy syndrome) is a condition we treat regularly. Options include epidural injections, spinal cord stimulators, and other targeted interventions that can provide meaningful relief without further surgery.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. You'll change into a gown, your physician will review the procedure with you and answer questions, and the procedure itself usually takes 15 – 30 minutes. Recovery takes another 15 – 30 minutes. Most patients are home within 1 – 2 hours of arrival.

If you receive sedation, you must arrange a ride home and should not drive for 24 hours. If your procedure used local anesthetic only, you can usually drive yourself home. Your physician will confirm what is appropriate for your specific procedure.

Most patients return to normal activities the day after a procedure. For physically demanding jobs, you may want to take it easy for 1 – 2 days. Your provider will give specific guidance based on your procedure and your situation.

We schedule a follow-up visit to assess your response. Many patients keep a simple pain diary in the days following their procedure to help measure progress. If the response was partial or short, we'll discuss next-step options at follow-up.

Existing patients can request appointments and prescription refills through our secure patient portal. For urgent questions during business hours, please call your office directly.